Back strikes at Further Education colleges this week

26 March 2018

Strikes at 12 colleges confirmed for late March

UCU members at 12 colleges will take a second wave of strike action later this month in an ongoing row over pay.

Staff at 11 London colleges and Sandwell College in the West Midlands will walk out on either 27 or 28 March for two or three days of strikes. There is a list of colleges and when they’re out on the UCU press release below.

7) College of North West LondonWillesden Campus, Denzil Road NW10 2XD 7.30-11am Wembley Park Campus, Wembley Park Drive HA0 8HP (both car entrance as listed and pedestrian entrance on the Wembley Stadium walkway (after you come down the steps under the bridge, on the right)

UCU members at 12 colleges will take a second wave of strike action later this month in an ongoing row over pay.

Staff at 11 London colleges and Sandwell College in the West Midlands will walk out on either 27 or 28 March for two or three days of strikes. The colleges affected and dates of strikes are:

College

Strike dates

City and Islington College

27/28/29 March

College of Haringey Enfield and North East London

27/28/29 March

Westminster Kingsway College

27/28/29 March

Croydon College

27/28/29 March

Lambeth College

27/28/29 March

Sandwell College

27/28/29 March

Hackney Community College

27/29 March 18 April

Redbridge College

27/29 March 18 April

Tower Hamlets College

27/29 March 18 April

Havering College

27/28 March

City of Westminster College

28/29 March

College of North West London

28/29 March

The dispute has arisen following a disappointing pay offer of 1% from the employer representative, the Association of Colleges, in September. The University and College Union (UCU) said the below-inflation offer failed to address the years of pay suppression, which further education staff have endured.

Staff at all affected institutions are taking action over pay, but at some colleges the dispute also includes concerns about working conditions including holiday entitlement, workload and observation policies. Overall, 91% of staff at affected colleges voted for strike action. The average turnout was 63%. A full breakdown of results is below.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: ‘UCU members at these colleges made it quite clear that they were prepared to take strike action in defence of their pay and conditions. They will be walking out again later this month unless the colleges properly address their concerns. Strike action is a last resort, but staff feel they have been left with no alternative.’

College

% voting for strike action

% turnout

Capital City College Group*

96%

63%

United College Group ^

90%

60%

New City College~

94%

63%

Croydon College

88%

68%

Havering College

78%

58%

Lambeth College

88%

66%

Sandwell College

90%

63%

Overall

91%

63%

* Capital City College Group comprises of the following colleges City and Islington College College of Haringey Enfield and North East London Westminster Kingsway College

^ United College Group comprises of the following colleges City of Westminster College College of North West London

~ New City College comprises of the following colleges Hackney Community College Redbridge College Tower Hamlets College